Randall to discuss emergency

Posted: Tuesday, March 06, 2001

KEVIN WELCHGlobe-News Staff Writer

Randall County commissioners will discuss today various aspects of providing rural fire and emergency response services, as plans continue for a fire district election despite complicated procedures and legal questions.

"We're trying to figure out how to do this election because there are questions we haven't been able to get answers to,'' said County Clerk Sue Bartolino.

Some complications arise from the fact that the initiative must pass in areas called Extra Territorial Jurisdictions outside the municipalities of Amarillo, Canyon, and Happy. If voters in the ETJs turn down the plan they will not be part of the fire district, according to state law.

ETJs extend five miles outside the city limits of Amarillo and one mile outside Canyon. City commissions must agree to allow the areas to be included in the election. The Amarillo City Commission is scheduled to take up the subject today.

Outside the municipalities of Lake Tanglewood, Timbercreek and Palisades, ETJs extend one-half mile. The fire district proposal must pass in the towns and the outside areas, but the law is unclear about what happens if the measure passes in a town but not the outside area.

"It isn't clear, but it seems to say the area and the municipality are considered one,'' said County Judge Ted Wood.

The clerk's office will have to plan for numerous ballots for many precincts.

The maximum tax for the district, designed to take the place of more than $300,000 cut by commissioners from next year's budget, is 3 cents per $100 of taxable value. That tax rate would be set after commissioners appoint a board to run the district. The board would hold a hearing before setting the rate, according to state law.

One of the arguments made by rural residents who asked the county to continue to fund fire and emergency protection was that the 3-cent maximum assessment would be insufficient. Based on information from the Potter-Randall Appraisal District, that rate would raise about $255,000.

"I would be in favor of putting in $50,000 of Randall County money. That would bring funding to about what it is now,'' Wood said. "There probably needs to be some sort of handoff period here. . .a sharing of responsibility for a while.''

Another option is for commissioners to support state legislation raising the ceiling of 3 cents. Commissioners are scheduled to discuss asking Rep. John Smithee, R-Amarillo, and Sen. Teel Bivins, R-Amarillo, for such legislation. However, Wood said Rep. Bill Carter, R-Fort Worth, may propose a similar bill, making action by commissioners unnecessary. Carter could not be reached to confirm his intentions.